Cong set to replace PCC chiefs in Punjab, Maharashtra, UP, Haryana

Ahead of Rahul Gandhi's elevation in organisational affairs, the Congress is set to bring new faces to head party units in over half-a-dozen states.

The state units are also set to have a youthful look with renewed emphasis on implementing Congress president Sonia Gandhi's recent circular to appoint former state Youth Congress presidents as PCC general secretaries and accommodate other YC office-bearers in the AICC and PCC.

Among the PCC chiefs who will be replaced, said sources, are Pradeep Balmuchu of Jharkhand, Phool Chand Mulana of Haryana, Manikrao Thakre of Maharashtra, Amarinder Singh of Punjab, Yashpal Arya of Uttarakhand, and Botcha Satyanarayana of Andhra Pradesh.

The Congress high command is also in the process of appointing replacements for Bihar and Uttar Pradesh PCC chiefs, Mehboob Aki Qaiser and Rita Bahuguna Joshi respectively, who had tendered their resignations following the party's debacle in the Assembly elections in these states. The post of Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) chief has also been lying vacant since the resignation of Kripashankar Singh Singh last February.

There could be a change of guard in the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee also if the state unit chief, Pradip Bhattacharya, gets a berth in the Union Council of Ministers in the next reshuffle which is expected to take place in the second week of September.

Following Pranab Mukherjee's election as President of India, the party is looking to induct another leader from the state in the Union Cabinet. West Bengal Youth Congress chief and niece of late A B A Ghani Khan Choudhury, Mausam Noor, was learnt to have already conveyed to the high command that she would prefer to work for the party. This has brought her uncle, Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury, MP from Maldaha Dakshin, in the reckoning for a ministerial post at the Centre.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Coal blocks case: SC hearing today, govt gets new lawyer

The how & why of Railway Board posts

Amartya Sen backs food Bill, slams Opposition for stalling Parliament

Pawar to seek special package for state